Groundwater experts say the NSW Government is ignoring scientific evidence in trying to solve the Murray River pipeline debate.

Leading Australian hydrogeologists say the proposed $500 million pipeline from the Murray River to Broken Hill will deliver much more expensive water than closer, plentiful high-quality groundwater supplies.

The NSW Government has called for tenders for the 270km-long pipeline from the Murray, but the experts say intelligent control of aquifers could have the same effect for far less money.

The giant groundwater resources in the River Darling floodplain close to Menindee were identified as a potential water supply for Broken Hill in 2013, after a three-year scientific study - the Broken Hill Managed Aquifer Recharge (BHMAR) project, led by Geoscience Australia with input from CSIRO.

“The BHMAR project investigation focused on the identification of a managed aquifer recharge scheme in the investigation area known as GWR3 or Jimargil,” the NSW Department of Primary Industries Water website states.

“This area was selected as the most suitable area for a managed aquifer recharge scheme due to the thickness of sands in the Calivil Formation, an overlying confining clay layer and suitable water quality characteristics. The site is about 15 kilometres to the south of weir 32 on the eastern side of the Darling River adjacent to Lake Emu.”

Dr Peter Dillon, co-chair of the International Association of Hydrogeologists Commission on Managing Aquifer Recharge, says the report focused on a much deeper aquifer containing saline groundwater that would require desalination.

“There is no explanation of why the Jimargil site, now called Talyawalka, was not considered.  It would seem to meet the four claimed criteria; security, service level, water quality and cost, comparably or significantly better than the proposed Murray pipeline.” 

He says the Department’s web site claims that “a shortlist of project options were evaluated” and “the analysis was performed in a transparent, robust and structured manner – overseen by experts from DPI Water, NSW Public Works and Infrastructure NSW”.  

“However no data or reports are presented to support this claim for the Talyawalka site that had previously been identified and extensively scrutinised by Geoscience Australia and CSIRO.  The International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) wrote several times to the department seeking clarification on this and has not received an explanation,” Dr Dillon said.

“No information or evidence has been provided publicly that we are aware of, nor provided to IAH, for a scientifically defensible reason to rule out this Talyawalka option that could save taxpayers and Broken Hill residents hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Instead public ally available comparisons are made with a very inferior groundwater option,” he said.

Managed aquifer recharge can be used to augment and secure supplies in the event of extended drought, and ensure acceptable environmental impacts.

“It is widely practised internationally as a water resources management measure, and has been growing in importance in Australia over the last 20 years,” said Dr Dillon.

“Pumping from this groundwater resource would not deplete Darling River water at low flows due to the blanket of clay lining the lower bed in this area. As well, filtration through the sandy aquifers also means the groundwater is much cleaner than water currently drawn directly from the River Darling.”

“Hydrogeologists have developed advanced skills in characterising aquifers and the clay layers that separate them from each other and from streams,” says University of NSW senior lecturer Dr Wendy Timms, vice-president of the IAH.

Extensive airborne geophysical surveys, drilling and coring and stratigraphic analysis, water quality evaluations, geomorphology, geochemistry and ecosystem impact assessments on the Menindee floodplain have far exceeded most if not all other groundwater investigations in Australia to date, she said.

Dr Dillon says the groundwater option for the mining and tourist destination would require expenditure on wells, a 27km pipeline to the existing Menindee water treatment plant, and maintenance to the existing 114km Menindee to Broken Hill pipeline.

Managed aquifer recharge as supply assurance during sustained drought would require minor expansion to the Menindee treatment plant and be incorporated in new infrastructure.

“The NSW Government says it wants to drought-proof Broken Hill yet so far it  appears to be ignoring the best available science,” says Professor Craig Simmons, director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training.

With more than 30 per cent of Australia’s water supply sourced from “hidden” underground water in such reserves, their usefulness in the future cannot be ignored.  

“As our major rivers come under increasing pressure to provide adequate water for drinking, agriculture and the environment, particularly the Murray and Darling rivers, the use of groundwater will become ever more important,” Professor Simmons said.

“With evidence-based and transparent decision-making based on sound science and economics, and with careful management, these groundwater reserves can support outback communities such as Broken Hill.”